File management device and file management method

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a data recording/reproducing apparatus ( 1 ), which includes a reader ( 3 ) for reading content data recorded in a minidisc ( 2 ), and a controller ( 4 ) for generating one file by gathering a plurality of content units not continued with each other to the read contents data and executing a process for generating relative position information of each content unit when the file is generated. The controller further divides the content unit into parts at a discontinuous point if each content unit for constituting the generated file includes a discontinuous area on a recording medium in case of reading the relative position information by the reader, and generates absolute position information on the recording media of each part. The relative position information of the content unit for constituting the read file and the absolute position information of the parts are stored in a table memory ( 6 ). The read file is expanded in an expansion memory ( 7 ) as temporary storage means by the parts and the absolute position information, and the expanded parts are subjected to an editing process including any of dividing, combining, erasing, track number moving by a data editor ( 8 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a file management apparatus and a filemanagement method, and more particularly to a file management apparatusand a file management method which records data in a recording mediumwhich records the data in a format capable of easily editing the data.

This application claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No.2004-002515, filed on Jan. 7, 2004, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND ART

Heretofore, for a recording medium, such as a disc, etc., techniques fora large capacity have been variously developed. It is also demanded thatrecording and reproducing of various data, etc., such as, for example,audio data, data for a computer application for one medium can berealized. Regarding development of general-purpose media, compatibilityand consistency of a conventional recording/reproducing apparatus, etc.are important. It is preferable as seen physically that conventionalresources can be effectively utilized.

A Minidisc (MD: Registered Trademark) of one type of a magneto-opticaldisc which has been widely used will be described as an example. Theminidisc is a magneto-optical disc having a diameter of 64 mm, which canrecord and reproduce audio data of music, etc. In the minidisc, audiodata is recorded by being compressed to the data amount of ⅕ to 1/10 byan ATRAC system. As an example of audio data, the minidisc can recordthe data of the amount for about 80 to 160 min. The minidisc adopts afile system which realizes high editability, such as dividing,combining, erasing, track number moving, etc. for recording data.

There has been proposed a technique for reproducing content data such asmusic, video, etc. recorded in package media such as CD-DA (Compact DiscDigital Audio), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc. by a personalcomputer (PC), and by using an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) of the PC as aprimary recording medium, copying or moving the content data to theminidisc that is a secondary recording medium.

In the technique heretofore proposed, it has been realized to manage theright of the contents even if transfer data is encrypted at datatransfer time between the PC and a terminal and further the content data(data as a unit of a musical song, etc., called a tracks) is edited, andto take the consistency of so called check-in (transfer of rights)/checkout (return of rights) in an SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative)system.

Since the minidisc for audio can be easily acquired by a user, it isvery convenient if this minidisc can be widely utilized other than theapplication of music, for data storage media, etc for a computer.However, since the recording capacity of the minidisc is small, about160 MB, an area for recording copyright protection information of ID,etc. peculiar to media is not prepared. Therefore, on the assumptionthat the minidisc is used as a wide data storage for music and/or videodistribution, etc., there is a problem that the minidisc cannot be dealtwith a request of copyright protection, etc. of the distributedcontents. Further, since the minidisc adopts a managing system (PTOC(Premastered Table Of Contents), UTOC (User Table Of Contents)) by aspecific managing area except audio data recording area, it is difficultto deal, for example, with a general-purpose file system application,such as an FAT system, etc. Furthermore, if data except audio isrecorded in a track under the UTOC management, a fault is generated,such as generation of abnormal noise at a reproducing time in many audiodevices (MD players). That is, if it is assumed that the minidisc foraudio is used as general-purpose storage media, a recording capacity, amanaging system, specific information related to copyright protection,etc., faults in conventional type become problems.

As a standard for the purpose of data recording except audio data in theminidisc system, the disc standards called “MD-DATA”, or “MD-CLIP” havealready been developed. However, the MD-DATA does not satisfy theabove-mentioned demand, because it is a dedicated disc different fromthe MD for audio, usable only for dedicated recording/reproducingapparatus for the MD-DATA, has a recording capacity of about 140 MB, andso on. Further, since the MD-CLIP can use the MD for audio and utilizesan inner peripheral part out of UTOC management, there is noinconvenience in a conventional audio device, but since thegeneral-purpose recording area is only about 2 MB, its application islimited by itself.

Therefore, there is proposed a next-generation minidisc in which theabove-mentioned faults are solved by narrowing a track pitch and makingimprovements in changing a linear speed and a modulation method torealize a high density of recording data, and further providing a normalrecording area a conceal area (secure area) usable by an authentication.These next-generation minidiscs adopt a new managing data configurationdifferent from the UTOC, and record specific data by encrypting unlikethe conventional minidisc which records a plain text. In thenext-generation minidisc, data such as musical contents, video contents,etc., in which a copyright is created is recorded by a predeterminedformat in a secure area and the secure area can be reproduced only by adevice which can be referred to. In the minidisc in which a newmodulation method is adopted, since musical data of high tone qualitycan be recorded and reproduced for a long time, the number of musicalsongs to be managed by one disc becomes large. Further, this minidiscintends to take affinity with a computer by managing data by using anFAT file system.

However, in the file system such as an FAT file system, etc., when aseries of musical files or video files are divided on the way of acluster by dividing, combining, erasing, track number moving, etc., itis necessary to move the one of the divided clusters to another area.Then, continuous reproducing of the divided files becomes difficult.Further, if the musical file is, for example, reproduced from the midwayof the track, it is necessary to trace the continuous information(cluster link table) of the cluster for acquiring the cluster number onthe disc, and hence it has taken a much time to calculate for thereproducing process. If reverse reproducing is executed, a cluster linkin reverse direction must be formed, and hence there is a problem thatmany memories must be consumed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel file managementapparatus and file management method which can eliminate the problem ofthe conventional art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a file managementapparatus and a file management method which can hold continuity on adisc even when a musical track is divided in an editing process.

The file management apparatus according to the present inventioncomprises: a file generating means for generating one file by gatheringa plurality of content units not continuous with each other; a relativeposition information generating means for generating relative positioninformation of each content unit on the file as managing information formanaging the content unit when the file is generated by the filegenerating means; and a position information recording means forrecording the relative position information on the recording medium.

The file management apparatus according to the present invention furthercomprises: a reading means for reading the generated file and relativeposition information recorded in a recording medium; a dividing meansfor dividing the content unit for constituting the file generated by thefile generating means into parts at a discontinuous point and generatingabsolute position information on the recording medium of the respectiveparts if the content unit is made of a discontinuous area on therecording medium when the relative position information is read by thereading means; a table storage means for storing a corresponding tablethat associates the relative position information of the content unitfor constituting the read file with the parts and the absolute positioninformation; a temporary storage means for expanding the read file bythe parts and the absolute position information; and a data editingmeans for executing a editing process including at least any of thedividing, the combining, the erasing and the track number moving for theparts expanded to the temporary storage means. The file managementapparatus executes an editing operation such as dividing, combining,erasing or track number moving data expanded to the temporary storagemeans based on the association of the relative position information ofthe content unit constituting the read file stored in the table storagemeans with the parts and the absolute position information.

Here, the content file includes a musical file and a video file. Whenthe content file is the musical file, the content unit is a track as asegmentation of each musical song, and when the content file is thevideo file, the content unit is a chapter.

The file management method according to the present invention comprises:a file generating step of generating one file by gathering a pluralityof content units not continuous to each other; a relative positioninformation generating step of generating relative position informationof each content unit on the file as managing information for managingthe content unit when the file is generated in the file generating step,and a position information recording step of recording the relativeposition information on the recording medium.

The file management method according to the present invention furthercomprises: a reading step of reading the generated file and relativeposition information recorded in the recording medium; a dividing stepof dividing the content unit for constituting the file generated in thefile generating step into parts at a discontinuous point and generatingabsolute position information on the recording medium of the respectiveparts if the content unit is made of a discontinuous area on therecording medium when the relative position information is read in thereading step; a step of expanding the file read based on a correspondingtable that associates the relative position information of the contentunit for constituting the read file with the parts and the absoluteposition information; and a data editing step of executing the editingprocess including at least any of the dividing, the combining, theerasing and the track number moving for the parts expanded to thetemporary storage means. Thus, the editing process such as the dividing,the combining, the erasing and the track number moving are executed tothe expanded data based on the association of the relative positioninformation of the content unit constituting the read file with theparts and the absolute position information.

According to the file management apparatus and the file managementmethod in accordance with the present invention, even if the musicaltrack is divided by the editing process, the continuity on the disc canbe held.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments ofthe present invention in reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a data recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a process view showing a processing step of editing orupdating data in the data recording/reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a process view showing a file updating processing step at adisc reading time in the data recording/reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a process view showing a file updating process step at a discwriting time in the data recording/reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the data recording/reproducingapparatus for recording/reproducing data with compatibility tonext-generation MD 1 and next-generation MD 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a disc showing an area configuration ona disc board of the next-generation MD 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a disc showing an area configuration ona disc board of next-generation MD 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a disc showing an area configuration ona disc board when audio data and PC data are recorded in a mixed manneron the disc of the next-generation MD 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a data managing structure of thenext-generation MD 1;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a data managing structure of thenext-generation MD 2;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a media drive of the datarecording/reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a managing system of audio data;

FIG. 13 is a view showing an audio file by an example of a managingsystem of audio data;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a track information file by an example of amanaging system of audio data;

FIG. 15 is a view showing a play order table by an example of a managingsystem of audio data;

FIG. 16 is a view showing a programmed play order table by an example ofa managing system of audio data;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a group information table by an example of amanaging system of audio data;

FIG. 18 is a view showing a group information table by an example of amanaging system of audio data;

FIG. 19 is a view showing a track information table by an example of amanaging system of audio data;

FIG. 20 is a view showing a track information table by an example of amanaging system of audio data;

FIG. 21 is a view showing a parts information by an example of amanaging system of audio data;

FIG. 22 is a view showing a parts information by an example of amanaging system of audio data;

FIG. 23 is a view showing a name table by an example of a managingsystem of audio data;

FIG. 24 is a view showing a name table by an example of a managingsystem of audio data;

FIG. 25 is a view showing an example of a managing system of audio data;

FIG. 26 is a view showing that a plurality of name slots by an exampleof a managing system of audio data can be referred to;

FIG. 27 is a view showing a process for deleting parts from an audiodata file in one example of a managing system of audio data; and

FIG. 28 is a view showing a process for deleting parts from audio datafile in one example of a managing system of audio data.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A file management apparatus and a file management method according tothe present invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

The file management apparatus according to the present invention is arecording/reproducing apparatus of a recording medium which can handledifferent data formed of different formats like, for example, audiodata, PC data, etc. As the recording medium, any recording medium whichcan record a large capacity can be used without limit of a semiconductormemory, a disc-like recording medium, etc. In this example, a minidisc(Registered Trademark) of disc-like magneto-optical recording medium isused. Particularly, a data recording apparatus of this example dealswith, in addition to a conventional minidisc, a minidisc which realizesa high density of recording data by narrowing a track pitch and makingimprovements in changing a linear speed and a modulation method, andfurther provides a normal recording area and a conceal area (securearea) usable by an authentication.

This minidisc records data on a disc by encrypting unlike theconventional minidisc for recording a plain text at a disc recordingtime. Then, in this minidisc, data such as musical contents, videocontents, etc. which creates a copyright are recorded in a conceal areain a predetermined format, and can be reproduced only by a device whichcan refer to this conceal area. In this example, as the contents,musical contents are adopted, and the ATRAC (Registered trademark)format audio data is handled as specific data recordable in this concealarea. The data such as an MP3 (MPEG1 Audio Layer-3) format, a WMA(Windows Media Audio) format, etc., audio data except the ATRAC, imagedata, text data, etc. is recorded in a normal recording area. Thedetails of the minidisc having the conceal area and the normal recordingarea will be described later.

A preferred embodiment of a data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 ofthe present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The data recording/reproducingapparatus 1 comprises a reader 3 for reading content data recorded in aminidisc 2, and a controller 4 for generating one file by gathering aplurality of content units not continuous with each other to the readcontent data and executing a process for generating relative positioninformation of each content unit in the file as managing information formanaging the content unit when the file is generated. The controller 4further divides the content unit into parts at a discontinuous point ifeach content unit for constituting the generated file includes adiscontinuous area on a recording medium when the relative positioninformation is read by the reader 3, and generates absolute positioninformation in the recording medium of each part.

The relative position information of the content unit for constitutingthe read file and the absolute position information of the parts arestored in a table storage unit 6 as a corresponding table. These readfiles are expanded in an expansion memory 7 as a temporary storage meansby the parts and the absolute position information, and an editingprocess including dividing, combining, erasing and track number movingis executed by a data editor 8 for the expanded parts. The relativeposition information generated from the controller 4 is written at apredetermined position of the minidisc by the writer 5.

The file management of the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 willbe described with reference to FIG. 2. In the FAT file system, if aseries of musical files or video files are divided by dividing,combining, erasing, track number moving, etc. on the way of the cluster,one of the divided clusters is moved to another area. At this time, thedata recording/reproducing apparatus 1 generates one file by gathering aplurality of tracks of the musical file so that even if the musicaltrack is divided, the continuity on the disc may not be collapsed, andrecords the musical file at a predetermined position of the minidisc. Atthis time, the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 generates andrecords the relative position information of each musical track in thefile newly generated as managing information for managing the musicaltracks in the generated file.

When the editing process and an updating process of recorded data areexecuted, the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 reads the generatedfile and the relative position information recorded in the recordingmedium in the memory as a working area in the data recording/reproducingapparatus. At this time, if the respective musical tracks forconstructing the file includes discontinuous clusters in the recordingmedium, the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 divides the musicaltracks into “parts” at discontinuous points, generates absolute positioninformation in the recording medium of the respective parts, and forms acorresponding table that associates the relative position informationwith the absolute position information in the file of the musical track.The editing process and the updating process, such as dividing,combining, erasing, track number moving, etc. to the recorded data areexecuted based on the absolute position information of the partsexpanded in the expansion memory 7.

A file updating process at a disc reading time by the datarecording/reproducing apparatus 1 will be described by referring to FIG.3. In FIG. 3, a track information table, parts link information, arelative parts information table and a cluster link are pieces ofinformation recorded on the disc, and a parts sort table and an absoluteparts information table are pieces of information formed in theexpansion memory 7. The data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 refers tothe parts link from the parts number of the musical track referred to bythe track information table. Here, start relative cluster and frame, endrelative cluster and frame of the parts of the respective musical tracksconstructed as one file are shown. The data recording/reproducingapparatus 1 sorts the respective parts to the parts sort table accordingto the order shown in the relative parts information table. The datarecording/reproducing apparatus 1 counts the relative cluster numberwhile tracing the cluster link, and registers the cluster number in theabsolute parts information table when the relative cluster numbercoincides with the start or end relative cluster number of the parts. Ifthe cluster was discontinuous on the way of the parts, the parts aredivided at the discontinuous point, and then the parts of divided rearhalf parts are registered as new parts in the absolute parts informationtable.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, at a disc writing time, the datarecording/reproducing apparatus 1 refers to the parts link from theparts number of the musical track referred to by the track informationtable. The respective parts referred by this parts link information aresorted to a parts sort table according to the order shown in theabsolute parts information table. The data recording/reproducingapparatus 1 counts the relative cluster number while tracing the clusterlink, and registers the relative cluster number with the relative partsinformation table when the cluster number coincides with the start orend cluster number.

Thus, the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 can hold continuity inthe disc even when the musical track is divided by the editing process,and can further finish tracing of the cluster link by one time.

The data recording/reproducing apparatus to which the present inventionis applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.Data recorded in the concealing area of the minidisc used for the datarecording/reproducing apparatus of this embodiment is audio file, and isdata based on an ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) system, anATRAC 3 system or ATRAC 3 plus system. The data recording/reproducingapparatus 1 comprises, as shown in FIG. 5, a media drive 11, a memorytransfer controller 12, a cluster buffer memory 13, an auxiliary memory14, USB interfaces 15, 16, a USB hub 17, a system controller 18, and anaudio processor 19. The data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 can beconnected to a personal computer (hereinafter, abbreviated as PC) 100.The minidisc can be used as audio data recording media, and can also beused as an external storage of the PC, etc.

The media drive 11 for constituting the data recording/reproducingapparatus 1 records or reproduces data in the charged minidisc 90. Aninternal configuration of the media drive 11 will be described later.

The memory transfer controller 12 controls to transmit and receivereproduced data from the media drive 11 or the recording data suppliedto the media drive 11. The cluster buffer memory 13 buffers the dataread at a high density data cluster unit from the data track of theminidisc 90 by the media drive 11 based on the control of the memorytransfer controller 12. The auxiliary memory 14 stores various types ofmanagement information, such as UTOC data, information for copyrightprotection to be recorded in a concealing area, information for checkingdata falsification, external device information for allowing accessingin a limited manner, etc. read from the minidisc 90 by the media drive11 based on the control of the memory transfer controller 12.

The system controller 18 can communicate with the PC 100 connectedthrough the USB interface 16 and the USB hub 17, controls thecommunication with this PS 100 to execute reception of a command, suchas a write request, a read request, etc., transmission, etc. of staticinformation, the other necessary information, and totally controls theentire data recording/reproducing apparatus 1. This system controller 18instructs the media drive 11 so as to read the managing information,etc., from the minidisc 90 when the minidisc 90 is, for example, chargedin the media driver 11, and stores the managing information, etc. of thePTOC, the UTOC, etc. read by the memory transfer controller 12. Thesystem controller 18 reads these managing information and thereby graspsthe track recording state of the minidisc 90. Further, an area forrecording content managing information including file information ofcontents data to be recorded and encrypted information of each contentunit of the content data to be recorded is secured in a predeterminedarea of an innermost periphery of the minidisc at a disc initializingtime.

The system controller 18 gives a signal of the effect that reading ofdata cluster including an FAT sector is executed for the media drive 11if a reading request of a certain FAT sector is delivered from the PC100. The read data cluster is written in the cluster buffer memory 13 bythe memory transfer controller 12. However, if the data of the FATsector is already stored in the cluster buffer memory 13, reading by themedia drive 11 is not necessary. At this time, the system controller 18gives a signal for reading the requested data of the FAT sector from thedata of the high density data cluster written in the cluster buffermemory 13, and transmits the signal to the PC 100 through the USBinterface 15, the USB hub 17, or controls for an audio reproducingprocess.

If the system controller 18 receives a write request in a certain FATsector from the PC 100, the system controller 18 makes the media drive11 execute reading of the data cluster including this FAT sector basedon the auxiliary memory 14. The read data cluster is written in thecluster buffer memory 13 by the memory transfer controller 12. However,if the data of this FAT sector is already stored in the cluster buffermemory 13, the reading of the media drive 11 is not necessary. Thesystem controller 18 supplies the data (recorded data) of the FAT sectortransmitted from the PC 100 to the memory transfer controller 12 throughthe USB interface 15, and executes rewriting of the data of thecorresponding FAT sector in the cluster buffer memory 13.

Furthermore, the system controller 18 instructs the memory transfercontroller 12 to transfer the date of the data cluster stored in thecluster buffer memory 13 in the state that necessary FAT sector isrewritten as recorded data to the media drive 11. At this time, themedia drive 11 modulates the recorded data of the data cluster by amodulation method corresponded by the attached minidisc, and writes therecorded data in the minidisc.

Incidentally, if the minidisc 90 has the concealing area and the normalrecording area as in this embodiment and the data recorded in each areaof the minidisc is predetermined, the system controller 18 instructsaccessing based on the recording area in which the recorded/reproduceddata is designated in response to the audio track or the data track tothe media drive. The data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 allowsrecording only any one of the PC data or the audio data in the attachedminidisc 90, and can control to inhibit recording of the data exceptthis. That is, the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 can control sothat the PC data and the audio data may not be mixed.

Incidentally, in the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 of thisembodiment, the above-mentioned recording/reproducing control is acontrol in case of recording/reproducing the data track, and the datatransfer in case of recording/reproducing MD audio data in and from theaudio track is executed through the audio processor 19.

The audio processor 19 has, for example, as an input system, an analogvoice signal input unit such as a line input circuit/microphone inputcircuit, etc., an A/D converter and a digital audio data input unit.Further, the audio processor 19 has an ATRAC compressionencoder/decoder, and a buffer memory of compressed data. Furthermore,the audio processor 19 has, as an output system, a digital audio dataoutput unit, a D/A converter and an analog voice signal output unit suchas a line output circuit/headphone output circuit, etc.

The audio data is recorded in the audio track of the minidisc 90 in casethat the digital audio data or the analog voice signal is input to theaudio processor 19. The linear PCM audio data obtained by beingconverted by the A/D converter after the inputted linear PCM digitalaudio data or the analog voice data is input, is subjected to ATRACcompression encoding, and is stored in the buffer memory. Thereafter,the linear PCM audio data is read from the buffer memory atpredetermined timing (a data unit corresponding to an ADIP cluster), andtransferred to the media drive 11. The media drive 11 writes thetransferred compressed data in the concealing area of the minidisc 90 asthe audio track by modulating the compressed data by an EFM modulationmethod or an RLL(1-7)PP modulation method. The data compressed by acompression technique except the ATRAC is written as general data in anormal recording area.

When the audio track is reproduced from the minidisc 90, the media drive11 demodulates the reproduced data to an ATRAC compressed data state,and transfers the reproduced data to the audio processor 19. The audioprocessor 19 performs ATRAC compression decoding to make the reproduceddata to linear PCM audio data, and outputs the linear PCM audio datafrom the digital audio data output unit. Alternatively, the linear PCMaudio data is output as an analog voice signal by the D/A converter andthe line output/headphone output is performed.

Incidentally, the structure shown in FIG. 5 is one example. When thedata recording/reproducing apparatus 1 is used as an external storagedevice for recording/reproducing only the data track by connecting thedata recording/reproducing apparatus 1 to the PC 100, the audioprocessor 19 becomes unnecessary. Meanwhile, when the audio signal isused mainly for the purpose of recording/reproducing, it is preferableto provide the audio processor 19 and further it is preferable toprovide an operating unit and a display unit as user interfaces.Further, the connection to the PC 100 is not limited to the USB, but,for example, in addition to so-called IEEE 1394 interface according tothe standards stipulated by IEEE (The Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers, Inc.), a general-purpose connection interface canbe applied.

Subsequently, specification example of the minidisc 90 used in thisembodiment will be described. The physical format of the conventionalminidisc (and MD-DATA) is determined as below. A track pitch is 1.6 μm,a bit length is 0.59 μm/bit. Further, a laser wavelength λ is λ=780 nm,and the numerical aperture NA of an optical head is 0.45. As a recordingsystem, a groove recording system in which grooves (grooves on a discboard surface) are used as tracks for recording/reproducing is adopted.As addressing schemes, there is adopted a recording system in which asingle spiral groove is formed on a disc board surface, wobbles formedin a zigzag manner are formed in a predetermined frequency (22.05 kHz)at both sides of this groove, and an absolute address is FM-modulatedwith the above-mentioned frequency as a reference in a wobbled groovetrack. Incidentally, the absolute address recorded as the wobbles isalso called an ADIP (Address in Pre-groove).

In the conventional MD, a main data section of 32 sectors and 4 sectorsof link sectors added thereto, totally 36 sectors are used to record asone cluster unit. The ADIP signal includes a cluster address and asector address. The cluster address includes 8 bit cluster H and 8 bitcluster L, and the sector address includes 4-bit sector. Further, in theconventional minidisc, as the recording data modulation method, an EFM(8-14 conversion) modulation is adopted. As an error correctiontechnique, an ACIRC (Advanced Cross Interleave Reed-Solomon Code) isused. The data interleave adopts a convolutional type. Thus, theredundancy of the data becomes 46.3%.

Also, a data detecting system of the conventional minidisc is abit-by-bit system, and as a disc drive system, a CLV (Constant LinearVelocity) is adopted. The linear velocity of the CLV is 1.2 m/sec. Thestandard data rate at recording/reproducing time is 133 kB/sec, arecording capacity is 164 MB (140 MB in the MD-DATA). The minimumrewrite unit (unit cluster) of data includes 36 sectors of 32 mainsectors and 4 link sectors as described above.

The data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 of this embodiment realizes ahigh density of recording data by narrowing a track pitch and makingimprovements in changing a linear velocity and a modulation method, inaddition to the conventional minidisc, and deals with a next-generationminidisc which includes a normal recording area and a concealing area(secure area) usable by an authentication. There have been proposed twotypes as the next-generation minidisc.

The next-generation MD 1 has the same physical specifications of arecording medium as the above-mentioned conventional minidisc.Therefore, its track pitch is 1.6 μm, its laser wavelength λ is λ=780nm, and the aperture rate of an optical head is NA=0.45. As a recordingsystem, a groove recording system is adopted. As addressing schemes, anADIP is used. Thus, since the structure of the optical system of a discdrive, an ADIP address reading system, and a servo process are similarto the conventional minidisc, compatibility with the conventional discis achieved. The next-generation MD 1 adopts an RLL(1-7)PP modulationmethod (RLL: Run Length Limited, PP: Parity preserve/Prohibit rmtr(repeated minimum transition runlength)) conformed to the high densityrecording as recording data modulation method. Also, as error correctionsystem, RS-LDC (Reed Solomon-Long Distance Code) system with BIS (BurstIndicator Subcode) having higher correction ability is used. In theabove-mentioned data structure, a data interleave is a block conclusiontype. Thus, the redundancy of the data becomes 20.50%. As data detectionsystem, a Viterbi decoding technique by PR(1, 2, 1) ML is used.

In a disc drive system, a CLV system is used. Its linear velocity is setto 2.4 m/sec. The standard data rate at recording/reproducing time is4.4 MB/sec. This system is adopted so that its total recording capacitycan be set to 300 MB. The modulation method is changed from EFM toRLL(1-7)PP modulation method so that a window margin is changed from 0.5to 0.666. Accordingly, a high density of 1.33 times as large as theconventional one can be realized. Also, the cluster of the minimumrewrite unit of data includes 16 sectors, 64 kB. Thus, the recordingmodulation method is changed from CIRC system to the system in which theRS-LDC system with the BIS, the difference of the sector structure andthe Viterbi decoding are used. Since a data efficiency is changed from53.7% to 79.5%, high density of 1.48 times as large as the conventionalone can be realized. When they are colligated, the next-generation MD 1can increase a recording capacity to 30 MB of about twice as large asthe conventional minidisc.

On the other hand, the next-generation MD 2 is a recording medium towhich a high density recording technique, such as a domain walldisplacement detection (DWDD) technique, etc. is applied, and has adifferent physical format from the above-mentioned conventional minidiscand the next-generation MD 1. The next-generation MD 2 has a track pitchof 1.25 μm, a bit length of 0.16 μm/bit, and is increased in density ina linear direction. Further, in order to take compatibility between theconventional minidisc and the next-generation MD 1, an optical system,reading system, servo process, etc. are based on the conventionalstandards, and a laser wavelength λ is λ=780 nm, and the numericalaperture of the optical head is NA=0.5. A recording system is a grooverecording system, and addressing schemes are system using the ADIP.Also, the profile of a housing is the same standards as the conventionalminidisc and the next-generation MD 1.

However, when the track pitch narrower than the conventional one and alinear density (bit length) are read as described above by using anoptical system equivalent to the conventional minidisc and thenext-generation MD 1, it is necessary to eliminate a detrack margin, acrosstalk from a land and a groove, a crosstalk from wobbles, focusleakage, a restriction in a CT signal, etc. Therefore, in thenext-generation MD 2, points of changing the groove depth, inclination,width, etc. of the groove are characteristic. More particularly, therange of the groove depth of the groove is defined to 160 to 180 nm, theinclination is defined to 60□ to 70□, and the width is defined to 600 to800 nm.

Also, the next-generation MD 2 adopts an RLL(1-7)PP modulation method(RLL: Run Length Limited, PP: Parity preserve/Prohibt rmtr (repeatedminimum transition runlength)) adapted to high density recording as arecording data modulation method. Further, as the error correctionsystem, RS-LDC (Reed Solomon-Long Distance Code) system with BIS (BurstIndicator Subcode) having higher correction ability is adopted. The datainterleave is a block conclusion type. Thus, the redundancy of databecomes 20.50%. The data detection system uses the Viterbi decodingtechnique by a PR(1, −1) ML. Also, the cluster of the minimum rewriteunit of data is constructed by 16 sectors, 64 kB.

As a disc drive system, a ZCAV (Zone Constant Angular Velocity) systemis used, and its linear velocity is 2.0 m/sec. The standard data rate atrecording/reproducing time is 9.8 MB/sec. Accordingly, thenext-generation MD 2 can set a total recording capacity to 1 GB byadopting a DWDD technique and this drive system.

The area structure example on the board surface of the next-generationMD 1 shown in this embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Thenext-generation MD 1 is the same medium as the conventional minidisc,and a PTOC (Premastered Table Of Contents) is provided as a premasteredarea at the innermost peripheral side of the disc. Here, disc managinginformation is recorded as an emboss pit by a physical structuraldeformation. The outer periphery from the premastered area is formed asa recordable area RDA capable of magneto-optical recording, and is arecordable/reproducible area formed with a groove as a guide groove of arecording track. The innermost peripheral side of this recordable areaRDA is provided with a UTOC (User Table Of Contents) area, UTOCinformation is described in this UTOC area, and a buffer area with thepremastered area PTOC and a power calibration area used for output powerregulation, etc. of a laser beam are provided.

The next-generation MD 2 does not use, as shown in FIG. 7, a prepit fora high density. Therefore, the next-generation MD 2 does not have a PTOCarea. In the next-generation MD 2, a unique ID area (Unique ID: UID) forrecording information for copyright protection, information for checkingdata falsification, other closed information, etc. is provided onfurther inner peripheral area of a recordable area. This UID area isrecorded by a recording system different from a DWDD technique appliedto the next-generation MD 2.

Incidentally, in the respective discs described here, an audio track ofmusical data and a data track can be recorded in a mixed manner. In thiscase, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, in the data area DA, an audiorecording area AA which records at least one audio track, and a datarecording area ADA for PC which records at least one data track areformed at respective arbitrary positions. A series of audio tracks andthe data tracks are not always necessary to be recoded physically andcontinuously on the disc, but may be divided into a plurality of parts,and recorded. The parts indicate physically and continuously recordedsections. That is, even when physically separated two PC data recordingareas exist on the disc, the number of the data tracks may sometimes beone, and may be plural.

Subsequently, based on FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the managing structure of adisc of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 shows the datamanaging structure of the next-generation M1, and FIG. 10 shows the datamanaging structure of the next-generation MD 2.

Since the next-generation MD 1 is the same medium as the conventionalminidisc, a PTOC is recorded by emboss pit that is not overwritable asadopted in the conventional minidisc. In this PTOC, the total capacityof the disc, UTOC position in the UTOC area, the position of a powercalibration area, the starting position of the data area, the endingposition (read-out position) of the data area, etc. are recorded asmanaging information.

In the next-generation MD 1, in the ADIP addresses 0000 to 0002, thepower calibration area (Rec Power Calibration Area) for regulating writeoutput of a laser is provided. In subsequent 0003 to 0005, the UTOC isrecorded. The UTOC includes managing information rewritten in responseto recording, erasing, etc. of the track (audio track/data track) andmanages the respective tracks the starting position, and the endingposition, etc., of the parts for constituting the track. Further, in thedata area, a free area in which the track is not yet recorded, that is,the parts of the writable area are also managed. In the UTOC, the entiredata for the PC is managed as one track not depending upon the MD audiodata. Therefore, even if the audio track and the data track are recordedin a mixed manner, the recording position of the data for the PC dividedinto a plurality of parts can be managed.

Also, the UTOC data is recorded in a specific ADIP cluster in this UTOCarea, and the content of the UTOC data is defined at each sector in thisADIP cluster. More particularly, the UTOC sector 0 (a head ADIP sectorin this ADIP cluster) manages the parts corresponding to the track orthe free area. The UTOC sector 1 and the sector 4 manage characterinformation corresponding to the track. Further, in the UTOC sector 2,the information for managing the recording date corresponding to thetrack is written.

The UTOC sector 0 is a data area which records recorded data, arecordable unrecording area, and further a data managing information,etc. For example, when data is recorded in the disc, a disc driversearches an unrecording area on the disc from the UTOC sector 0, andrecords the data here. Also, at a reproducing time, an area in whichdata track to be reproduced is recorded, is discriminated from the UTOCsector 0, accessed, and a reproducing operation is executed.

Incidentally, in the next-generation MD 1, the PTOC and the UTOC arerecorded as data modulated by a technique based on a conventionalminidisc system, here an EFM modulation method. Therefore, thenext-generation MD 1 has an area recorded as data modulated according tothe EFM modulation method, and an area recorded as high density datamodulated by an RS-LDC and RLL(1-7)PP modulation technique.

Also, in an alert track described in the ADIP address 0032, informationfor informing that even if the next-generation MD 1 is inserted into thedisc driver of the conventional minidisc, this medium does notcorrespond to the disc driver of the conventional minidisc is stored.This information may be voice data of “this disc has a format that isnot corresponding to this reproducing unit”, etc. or alarm sound data.Further, in case of the disc driver having a display unit, the data fordisplaying the effect may be sufficient. This alert track is recorded bythe EFM modulation method so as to be readable even by the disc drivercorresponding to the conventional minidisc.

In the ADIP address 0034, a disc description table (DDT) displaying thedisc information of the next-generation MD 1 is recorded. In the DDT, aformat form, total number of logical clusters in the disc, ID peculiarto the medium, updating information of this DDT, defective clusterinformation, etc. are described.

From the DDT area, high density data modulated by the RS-LDC and theRLL(1-7)PP modulation method is recorded. Accordingly, a guard band areais provided between the alert track and the DDT.

Also, in the youngest ADIP address in which high density data modulatedby the RLL(1-7)PP modulation technique is recorded, that is, the headaddress of the DDT, a logical cluster number (LCN) being 0000 here isattached. 1 logical cluster is 65,536 bytes, and this logical clusterbecomes the reading/writing minimum unit. Incidentally, the ADIPaddresses 0006 to 0031 are reserved.

For subsequent ADIP addresses 0036 to 0038, a secure area openable by anauthentication is provided. Attribute of opening permissible,non-permissible, etc., of each cluster for constituting data is managedby this secure area. Particularly, in this secure area, information forcopyright protection, information for checking data falsification, etc.are recorded. Also, the other various types of closed information can berecorded. This non-permissible area is accessible in a limited manneronly by a specific external device permitted particularly. Theinformation for authenticating accessible external device is included.

From the ADIP address 0038, freely writing and reading user area(arbitrary data length) and a spare area (data length 8) are described.The data recorded in the user area are delimited to user sector at 2,048bytes from the head as one unit when the data recorded in the user areaare aligned in an ascending order of the LCN, and a user selector number(USN) being 0000 as a head user selector is attached from an externaldevice, such as a PC, etc., and managed by the FAT file system.

Subsequently, the data managing structure of the next-generation MD 2will be described by using FIG. 10. The next-generation MD 2 does nothave a PTOC area. Therefore, disc managing information, such as totalcapacity of the disc, the position of a power calibration area, thestarting position of the data area, the ending position (lead-outposition) of the data area, etc. is all included in the ADIP informationas PDPT (Preformat Disc Parameter Table), and recorded. The data aremodulated by the RS-LDC with BIS and RLL(1-7)PP modulation method, andrecorded by the DWDD technique.

Also, in a lead-in area and a lead-out area, a laser power calibrationarea (Power Calibration Area: PCA) is provided. In the next-generationMD2, an ADIP address continued to the PCA is set to 0000, and the LDC isattached.

Also, in the next-generation MD 2, a control area corresponding to theUTOC area in the next-generation MD 1 is prepared. In FIG. 10,information for copyright protection, information for checking datafalsification, and unique ID area (Unique ID:UID) for recording otherclosed information, etc. are shown. In fact, this UID area is recordedat further inner peripheral position of the lead-in area by a recordingsystem different from the normal DWDD technique.

The files of the next-generation MD 1 and the next-generation MD 2 aremanaged together based on the FAT file system. For example, therespective data tracks have the FAT file systems independently.Alternatively, one FAT file system can be recoded over a plurality ofthe data tracks.

Subsequently, the peripheral structures of the media drive 11 and theaudio processor 19 in the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 will bedescribed in detail by using FIG. 11.

The media drive 11 has a structure for executing EFM modulation/ACIRCencoding for recording a conventional minidisc as a recording processingsystem particularly for recording/reproducing the minidisc 90, and astructure for executing RLL(1-7)PP modulation/RS-LDC encoding forrecording a conventional minidisc. Also, as a reproducing processsystem, the media drive 11 has a structure for executing EFMdemodulation/ACIRC decoding for reproducing a conventional minidisc, anda structure for executing an RLL(1-7)PP demodulation/RS-LDC decodingbased on data detection using PR(1, 2, 1)ML and Viterbi decoding forreproducing the next-generation minidisc.

The media drive 11 rotatably drives the charged minidisc 90 by a spindlemotor 21 through a CLV system or a ZCAV system. At therecording/reproducing time, a laser beam is illuminated from an opticalhead 22 to this minidisc 90.

The optical head 22 outputs a high level laser for heating the recordingtrack to a Curie temperature at the recording time, and outputs arelatively low level laser for detecting data from the reflected lightby a magnetic Kerr effect at the reproducing time. Therefore, theoptical head 22 carries a laser diode as a laser output means, anoptical system having a polarization beam splitter, an objective lens,etc., and a detector for detecting a reflected light. The optical lensin the optical head 22 is, for example, held displaceably in the radialdirection of the disc and a direction for contacting with and separatingfrom the disc by a biaxial mechanism.

In this embodiment, to obtain reproducing characteristics of the maximumlimit to the conventional minidisc and the next-generation minidischaving different physical specifications on the surface of a medium, aphase compensating plate which can optimize a bit error rate at the datareading time for both the discs is provided in the reading light opticalpath of the optical head 2.

The magnetic head 23 is disposed at the position opposed to the opticalhead 22 through the minidisc 90. The magnetic head 23 applies a magneticfield modulated by recording data to the minidisc 90. Also, though notshown, a thread motor and a thread mechanism for moving the entireoptical head 22 and the magnetic head 23 in a disc radial direction areprovided.

In this media drive 11, in addition to a recording/reproducing headsystem by the optical head 22 and the magnetic head 23, and a discrotary driving system by the spindle motor 21, a recording processingsystem, a reproducing processing system, a servo system, etc., areprovided. As the recording processing system, a portion for executingEFM modulation, ACIRC encoding at the recording time to the conventionalminidisc and a portion for executing RLL(1-7)PP modulation, RS-LDCencoding at the recording time to the next-generation MD 1 and thenext-generation MD2 are provided.

As the reproducing processing system, a portion for executingdemodulation and ACIRC decoding to the EFM modulation at the reproducingtime of the conventional minidisc and a portion for executingdemodulation (PR(1, 2, 1) ML and RLL(1-7) demodulation based on the datadetection using the Viterbi decoding), RS-LDC decoding corresponding tothe RLL(1-7)PP modulation at the reproducing time of the next-generationMD 1 and the next-generation MD 1 are provided.

Information (photocurrent obtained by detecting a laser reflected beamby a photodetector) detected as the reflected light by laser radiatingto the minidisc 90 of the optical head 22 is supplied to an RF amplifier24. The RF amplifier 24 executes current-voltage conversion,amplification, matrix calculation, etc. of the inputted detectioninformation, and extracts a reproducing RF signal, a tracing errorsignal TE, a focus error signal FE, groove information (ADIP informationrecorded by wobbling of the track in the minidisc 90), etc., asreproducing information.

Heretofore, at the minidisc reproducing time, a reproducing RF signalobtained by the RF amplifier is processed by an EFM demodulator 27 andan ACIRC decoder 28 through a comparator 25 and a PLL circuit 26. Thereproduced RF signal is binarized by the EFM demodulator 27 to an EFMsignal train, then EFM demodulated, and further error correction anddeinterleaving processes are executed by the ACIRC decoder 28. If thereproduced RF signal is audio data, the signal becomes a state of ATRACcompressed data at this time point. At this time, a selector 29 isselected at the conventional minidisc signal side, and the demodulatedATRAC compressed data is output as reproduced data from the minidisc 90to a data buffer 30. In this case, the compressed data is supplied tothe audio processor 19 of FIG. 5.

On the other hand, at the next-generation MD 1 and the next-generationMD 2 reproducing time, the reproduced RF signal obtained by the RFamplifier is signal processed by an RLL(1-7)PP demodulator 35 and anRS-LDC decoder 36 through an A/D converter circuit 31, an equalizer 32,a PLL circuit 33 and a PRML circuit 34. The reproduced RF signal isprocessed to the reproduced data as an RLL(1-7) code string by the datadetection using the PR(1, 2, 1) ML and the Viterbi decoding in theRLL(1-7)PP demodulator 35, and this RLL(1-7) code string is subjected tothe RLL(1-7) demodulating process. Further, the RLL(1-7) code string issubjected to error correction and deinterleaving process by an RS-LDCdecoder 36. In this case, the selector 29 is selected at thenext-generation MD 1/the next-generation MD 2 side, and the demodulateddata is output as the reproduced data from the minidisc 90 to the databuffer 30. At this time, the demodulated data is supplied to the memorytransfer controller 12 of FIG. 5.

A tracking error signal TE and focus error signal FE to be output fromthe RF amplifier 24 are supplied to a servo circuit 37, and the grooveinformation is supplied to an ADIP decoder 38.

The ADIP decoder 38 extracts a wobble component by band limiting thegroove information by a band-pass filter, performs FM demodulation,by-phase demodulation to extract an ADIP address. The extracted ADIPaddress that is absolute address information on the disc is supplied tothe drive controller 41 through the MD address decoder 39 in the case ofthe conventional minidisc and the next-generation MD 1 or through thenext-generation MD 2 address decoder 40 in the case of thenext-generation MD 2.

In the drive controller 41, a predetermined control process is executedbased on each ADIP address. Also, the groove information is returned tothe servo circuit 37 for spindle servo control.

The servo circuit 37 generates a spindle error signal for the CLV servocontrol and the ZCAV servo control based on an error signal obtained byintegrating the phase error between the groove information and thereproducing clock (PLL system clock at the decoding time).

Also, the servo circuit 37 generates various types of servo controlsignals (a tracking control signal, a focus control signal, a threadcontrol signal, a spindle control signal, etc.) based on a spindle errorsignal, a tracking error signal supplied from the RF amplifier 24 asdescribed above, a focus error signal or a tracking jump command, anaccess command signal, etc. from the drive controller 41, and outputs toa motor driver 42. That is, necessary processes, such as a phasecompensating process, a gain process, a target value setting process,etc. are executed to the above-mentioned servo error signal or command,and the various types of servo control signals are generated.

The motor driver 42 generates a predetermined servo drive signal basedon the servo control signal supplied from the servo circuit 37. Theservo drive signals here are a biaxial drive signal (two types of afocus direction and a tracking direction) for driving a biaxialactuator, a thread motor drive signal for driving a thread mechanism,and a spindle motor drive signal for driving the spindle motor 21. Thefocus control, tracking control to the minidisc 90, and CLV control orZCAV control to the spindle motor 21 are executed by such a servo drivesignal.

When a recording operation is executed to the minidisc 90, high densitydata from a memory transfer controller 12 shown in FIG. 5 or a normalATRAC compressed data from the audio processor 19 is supplied.

Heretofore, at the recording time to the conventional minidisc, aselector 43 is connected to the conventional minidisc side, and an ACIRCencoder 44 and an EFM modulator 43 function. In this case, as the audiosignal, the compressed data from the audio processor 19 is interleavedby the ACIRC encoder 44, added with the error correction code, and thenEFM modulated in the EFM modulator 45. The EFM modulation data issupplied to the magnetic head driver 46 through the selector 43, amagnetic field is applied by the magnetic head 23 to the minidisc 90based on the EFM modulation data, and thereby the modulated data isrecorded.

At the next-generation MD 1 and the next-generation MD 2 recording time,the selector 43 is connected to the next-generation MD 1/thenext-generation MD 2 side, and the RS-LCD encoder 47 and the RLL(1-7)PPmodulator 48 function. In this case, the high density data sent from thememory transfer controller 12 is interleaved by the RS-LCD encoder 47,the error correction code of the RS-LDC technique is added, and thenRLL(107) modulated by the RLL(1-7) PP modulator 48.

The recorded data modulated to the RLL(1-7) code string is supplied to amagnetic head driver 46 through the selector 43, a magnetic field isapplied by the magnetic head 23 to the minidisc 90 based on themodulated data and thereby the data is recorded.

A laser driver/APC 49 executes a laser emitting operation in a laserdiode at the above-mentioned reproducing time and recording time, andso-called APC (Automatic Laser Power Control) operation is executed.More particularly, though not shown, a detector for monitoring a laserpower is provided in the optical head 22, and this monitor signal is fedback to the driver/APC 49. The laser driver/APC 49 compares the presentlaser power obtained as the monitor signal with a preset laser power toreflect its error part to a laser drive signal, thereby controlling sothat the laser power output from the laser diode is stabilized at a setvalue. Here, the laser power is set at the values as a reproduced laserpower and a recorded laser power in the register in the laser driver/APC49 by the drive controller 41.

The drive controller 41 controls the respective structures to executethe above-mentioned respective operations (the respective operations ofaccessing, various type servo, data writing, data reading) based on theinstruction from the system controller 18. Incidentally, in FIG. 11, therespective parts surrounded by one dotted broken line can be constructedas one-chip circuit.

Incidentally, if the minidisc 90 is set in areas by previously dividinginto a data track recording area and an audio track recording area, thesystem controller 18 instructs accessing to the drive controller 41 ofthe media drive 11 based on the set recording area in response towhether the data to be recorded/reproduced is the audio track or thedata track. Also, the system controller 18 allows to record only one ofthe data for the PC and the audio data and can control to inhibitrecording of the data except this to the attached minidisc 90. That is,the data for the PC and the audio data can be controlled so as not to bemixed.

An example of a managing system when the content data isrecorded/reproduced by the data recording/reproducing apparatus 1 to theminidisc 90 having the above-mentioned specification will be described.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a managing technique of audio data. As shownin FIG. 12, a track information file and an audio data file aregenerated on the disc. The track information file and the audio datafile are files managed by the FAT system. The track information filecorresponds to encryption information relating to the content data.Incidentally, the managing structure shown in FIG. 12 includes a file ofsecurity information and content generation managing informationcharacteristic in the next-generation MD 1 and the next-generation MD 2.As the security information and the content generation managinginformation, there are an EKB (Enabling Key Block) as reproductionallowing information of each set of the recording/reproducing apparatusof the recording medium, a track MAC, etc. as falsification checkinginformation of the content.

The audio data file contains, as shown in FIG. 13, a plurality ofmusical data as one file. When the audio data file is seen in the FATsystem, the file is seen as a huge file. A plurality of audio blocksincluded in the audio data file form one track. The audio data file isdelimited therein as parts, and the audio data is handled as a set ofthe parts. The delimiter of this parts does not always coincide withthat of the tracks.

The track information file shown in FIG. 12 is the file which describesvarious type information for managing the musical data contained in theaudio data file. The track information file includes, as shown in FIG.14, a play order table, a programmed play order table, a groupinformation table, a track information table, a parts information table,and a name table.

The play order table is a table showing a reproducing order defined by adefault. The play order table contains information INF1, INF2, . . . ,showing a link head to the track descriptor (FIG. 19) of the trackinformation table about the respective truck numbers (musical number),as shown in FIG. 15. The track number is, for example, continued numbersstarting from “1”.

The programmed play order table is a table in which a reproducing orderis defined by each user. In the programmed play order table, as shown inFIG. 16, information track information PINF1, PINF2, . . . , of a linkhead to the track descriptor about the respective track numbers aredescribed. In the group information table, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18,information on a group is described. The group is a set of one or moretracks having continued track numbers or a set of one or more trackshaving the continued programmed track numbers. The group informationtable, as shown in FIG. 17, is described by the group descriptors of therespective groups. In the group descriptors, as shown in FIG. 17, thetrack numbers from which the group is started, the number of the endingtrack, the group name, and a flag are described.

In the track information table, as shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20,information relating to each song is described. The track informationtable includes, as shown in FIG. 19, the track descriptors of therespective tracks (the respective songs). In the respective trackdescriptors, as shown in FIG. 20, a coding system, copyright managinginformation, decoding key information of the contents, pointerinformation to parts number as an entry starting the musical song, anartist name, a title name, original song order information, recordingtime information, etc., are described. The artist name, the title nameare not the names themselves, but the pointer information to the nametable are described. In the coding system, a CODEC system is shown, andbecomes decoding information.

The parts information table, as shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, a pointerfor accessing the position of the actual musical song from the partsnumber is described. The parts information table includes, as shown inFIG. 21, the parts descriptors of the respective parts. The parts arethe respective parts divided from the entirety of one track (musicalsong) or one track. The entry of the parts descriptor is pointed out bythe track information table (FIG. 20). In the respective partsdescriptors, as shown in FIG. 22, the address of the head of the part onthe audio data file, the address of the end of the part, and a link headto the part continued to the part are described.

Incidentally, as the addresses used as pointer information of the partnumber, pointer information of the name table, and pointer informationshowing the position of the audio file, a byte offset of the file,cluster number of the FAT, physical address of the disc used as arecording medium, etc., can be used.

The name table is a table for displaying a character as the entity ofthe name. The name table includes a plurality of name slots, as shown inFIG. 23. The respective name slots are linked from the respectivepointers showing the names, and called. The pointers for calling thenames include the artist name of the track information table, the titlename, the group name of the track information table, etc. Also, therespective name slots can be called from plural ones. The respectivename slots include, as shown in FIG. 24, name data of characterinformation, a name type of the attribute of this character information,and a link destination. A long name which cannot be contained in onename slot is divided into a plurality of name slots, and can bedescribed. If the name is not contained in one name slot, the link headto the name slot describing the name continued to the name slot isdescribed.

In one example of the managing system of the audio data in the system towhich the present invention is applied, as shown in FIG. 25, when thereproduced track number is designated by the play order table (Refer toFIG. 15), the track descriptor (FIG. 19) of the link destination of thetrack information table is read, the coding system, copyright managinginformation, decoding key information of the content, the pointerinformation to the parts number starting its musical song, the pointersof the artist name and the title name, the original song orderinformation, recording time information, etc. are read from this trackdescriptor.

The information of the parts number read from the track informationtable is linked to the parts information table (Refer to FIG. 21 andFIG. 22), and the audio data file of the position of the partscorresponding to the starting position of the track (musical song) isaccessed from this parts information table. When the data of the partsof the position designated by the parts information table of the audiodata file is accessed, the reproducing of the audio data is started fromits position. At this time, the decoding is executed based on the codingsystem read from the track descriptor of the track information table.When the audio data is encrypted, the key information read from thetrack descriptor is used.

If there are the parts continued to the parts, the parts descriptor isdescribed at the link head of the parts, the parts descriptors aresequentially read according to this link destination. The audio data ofthe desired track (musical song) can be reproduced by tracing the linkdestination of this parts descriptor, reproducing the audio data of theparts disposed at the position designated by its parts descriptor on theaudio data file. Also, the name slot (Refer to FIG. 23 and FIG. 24) ofthe name table disposed at the position pointed out by the pointer ofthe artist name or the title name read from the track information tableis called, and the name data is read from the name slot disposed at theposition.

Incidentally, as described above, a plurality of the name slots of thename table can be referred. For example, there might be the case that aplurality of the musical songs of the same artist are recorded. In thiscase, as shown in FIG. 26, the same name table is referred as the artistname from a plurality of the track information tables. In the example ofFIG. 26, a track descriptor “1”, a track descriptor “2”, and a trackdescriptor “4” are all musical songs of the same artist “DEF BAND”, andthe same name slot is referred as the artist name. Also, a trackdescriptor “3”, a track descriptor “5”, and a track descriptor “6” areall musical songs of the artist “GHQ GIRLS” of the same position, andthe same name slot is referred to as the artist name. Thus, when thename slots of the name table can be referred from a plurality of thepointers, the capacity of the name table can be saved.

Together with this, for example, the link of this name table can beutilized to display the information of the same artist name. Forexample, if a list of the musical songs of “DEF BAND” of the artist nameis desired to be displayed, the track descriptor which refers to theaddress of the name slot of “DEF BAND” is traced. In this example,pieces of the information of the track descriptor “1”, the trackdescriptor “2” and the track descriptor “4” are obtained by tracing thetrack descriptors which refer to the address of the name slot of “DEFBAND”. Thus, a list of the musical songs of “DEF BAND” of the artistname in the musical songs contained in this disc can be displayed.Incidentally, since a plurality of the name tables can be referred,there is not provided a link for reversely tracing the track informationtable from the name table.

When audio data is newly recorded, desired number of recording blocks ormore, for example, continued unused areas of 4 recording blocks or moreare prepared by the FAT table. It is because no waste exists inaccessing to record the audio data in the continued area as much aspossible in case of securing the continued area of the desired number ofrecording blocks or more.

When the area for recording the audio data is prepared, one new trackdescription is assigned on the track information table, and a key ofcontent for encrypting this audio data is generated. Further, the inputaudio data is encrypted, and the encrypted audio data is recorded on theprepared unused area. The area which records this audio data is coupledto the last of the audio data file in the FAT file system.

As the new audio data is coupled to the audio data file, the informationof this coupled position is formed, and the position information of thenewly formed audio data is recorded in the newly secured partsdescription. Further, the key information and the parts number aredescribed in the newly secured track description. Further, the artistname, the title name, etc. are described in the name slots as needed,and pointers linked to the artist name and the title name are describedin the name slots in the track description. The number of the trackdescription is registered in the play order table. Also, copyrightmanaging information is updated.

When the audio data is reproduced, the information corresponding to thedesignated track number is obtained from the play order table, and thetrack descriptor of the track to be reproduced is obtained.

The key information is acquired from the track descriptor of the trackinformation table, and a parts description showing an area stored in thedata of an entry is obtained. The position on the head audio data fileof the parts which stores the desired audio data is acquired from itsparts description, and the data stored at its position is retrieved.Further, an encryption is decrypted by using the acquired keyinformation to the data reproduced from the position, and the audio datais reproduced. If the parts description has a link, the data isdesignated and linked to the parts, and the same procedure is repeated.

When the musical song becoming a track number “n” is changed to a tracknumber “n+m” on the play order table, the track description Dn in whichthe information of the track is described from the track informationTINFn in the play order table is obtained. The values of the trackinformation TINFn+m from TINFn+1 (track description number) are allmoved to immediately before. The number of the track description Dn isstored in the track information TINFn+m.

When the musical song being the track number “n” is deleted in the playorder table, the track descriptor Dn describing the information of thetrack is acquired from the track information TINFn in the play ordertable. The effective track descriptors Dn after the track informationTINFn+1 in the play order table are all moved to immediately before. Anencoding system corresponding to the track, decoding key are obtained bythe track information table from the obtained track descriptor Dn, andthe number of the parts descriptor Pn showing the area for storing thehead musical data is obtained. The audio block of the range designatedby the parts descriptor Pn is separated from the audio data file on theFAT file system. Further, the track descriptor Dn of the track of thetrack information table is erased.

For example, in FIG. 27, the parts A, the parts B and the parts C arecoupled so far, and the parts B of them is deleted. The parts A and theparts B are shared in the same audio block (and the same FAT cluster),and the FAT chain is continued. The parts C is positioned immediatelyafter the parts B in the audio data file, but when the FAT table isexamined, the parts C are actually at the position separated from theparts B.

In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 28, when the parts B aredeleted, two FAT clusters which does not share the present parts and thecluster can be actually removed (returned to an empty area) from the FATchain. That is, the audio data file is shortened to 4 audio blocks. Thenumbers of the audio blocks recorded in the parts C and the parts afterthe parts C are all reduced by 4 in association with this.

The deletion can be executed not for one track entirely, but can beexecuted for the part of its track. If the part of the track is deleted,the information of the residual track can be decoded by using the codingsystem, decoding key corresponding to the track obtained from the partsdescriptor Pn by the track information table.

When the track n and the track (n+1) on the play order table arecoupled, the track descriptor number Dn describing the information ofthe track is obtained from the track information TINFn in the play ordertable. Further, the track descriptor number Dm describing theinformation of the track is obtained from the track information TINFn+1in the play order table. The values of the effective TINF (the trackdescriptor number) after the TINFn+1 in the play order table are allmoved to TINF immediately before. The programmed play order table isretrieved, and the tracks which refer the track descriptor Dm are alldeleted. A new encrypting key is generated, the list of the partsdescriptors is retrieved from the track descriptor Dn, and the list ofthe parts descriptors retrieved from the track descriptor Dm is coupledto the last of the list of the parts descriptor.

When the tracks are coupled, both the track descriptors are compared, noproblem in the copyright management is confirmed, and the partsdescriptor is obtained from the track descriptor. Then, whether thestipulation regarding the fragment is satisfied or not when both thetracks are coupled, must be confirmed in the FAT table. Further, it isnecessary to update the pointer to the name table as required.

When the track n is divided into the track n and the track (n+1), thetrack descriptor number Dn describing the information of the track isobtained from the TINFn in the play order table. The track descriptornumber Dm describing the information of the track is obtained from thetrack information TINFn+1 in the play order table. The values of theeffective track information TINF (track descriptor number) after theTINFn+1 in the play order table are all moved to TINF immediately after.A new key is generated for the track descriptor Dn. The list of theparts descriptors is retrieved from the track descriptor Dn. The newparts descriptor is assigned, and the contents of the parts descriptorbefore dividing are copied here. The included parts descriptor of adividing point are shortened to immediately before the dividing point.The link of the parts descriptor after the dividing point is cut off.The new parts descriptors are set immediately after the dividing point.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodimentswhich have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings,and various modifications, replacements or the equivalents may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scopeof the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims andtheir equivalence.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is used for an apparatus which can record in alarge capacity and which can handle a recording medium having a fileformat including managing data complicated by encrypting recording, etc.

1. A file management apparatus for managing a file of content datarecorded on a recording medium based on a file system capable of atleast dividing, combining, erasing and track number moving as an editingprocess to recording data, comprising: file generating means forgenerating the file by gathering a plurality of content units notcontinuous with each other on the recording medium; reading means forreading the file and information indicating relative positions of thecontent units recorded in the recording medium; dividing means fordividing a content unit included in the file into parts at adiscontinuous point and generating information indicating the absolutepositions on the recording medium of the respective parts, if thecontent unit is made of a discontinuous area on the recording mediumwhen the information indicating the relative positions of the contentunits is read by the reading means; table storage means for storing atable that associates the information indicating the relative positionof the content unit included in the file with the information indicatingthe absolute position of the parts; temporary storage means forexpanding the file by the parts and the information indicating theabsolute position of the parts; and data editing means for executing theediting process including at least any of the dividing, the combining,the erasing and the track number moving for the parts expanded to thetemporary storage means.
 2. The file management apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the file includes a musical file or a video file. 3.The file management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when thefile is a musical file, the content unit is a track as a segmentation ofeach musical song, and when the file is a video file, the content unitis a chapter.
 4. The file management method for managing a file ofcontent data recorded in a recording medium based on a file systemcapable of at least dividing, combining, erasing and track number movingas an editing process to recording data comprising: generating the fileby gathering a plurality of content units not continuous to each otheron the recording medium; reading the file and information indicatingrelative positions of the content units recorded in the recordingmedium; dividing a content unit included in the file into parts at adiscontinuous point and generating information indicating the absolutepositions on the recording medium of the respective parts, if thecontent unit is made of a discontinuous area on the recording mediumwhen the information indicating the relative positions of the contentunits is read; expanding the file by the parts, based on a table thatassociates the relative position of the content unit included in thefile with the information indicating the absolute position of the parts;and executing the editing process including at least any of thedividing, the combining, the erasing and the track number moving for theparts expanded.
 5. A file management apparatus for managing a file ofcontent data recorded on a recording medium based on a file systemcapable of at least dividing, combining, erasing and track number movingas an editing process to recording data, comprising: a file generatingunit configured to generate the file by gathering a plurality of contentunits not continuous with each other on the recording medium; a readingunit configured to read the file and information indicating the relativepositions of the content units recorded in the recording medium; adividing unit configured to divide a content unit included in the fileinto parts at a discontinuous point and generating informationindicating the absolute positions of the recording medium of therespective parts, if the content unit is made of a discontinuous area onthe recording medium when the information indicating the relativepositions of the content units is read by the reading unit; a tablestorage unit configured to store a table that associates the informationindicating the relative position of the content unit included in thefile with the information indicating the absolute position of the parts;a temporary storage unit configured to expand the file by the parts andthe information indicating the absolute position of the parts; and adata editing unit configured to execute the editing process including atleast any of the dividing, the combining, the erasing and the tracknumber moving for the parts expanded to the temporary storage unit.